Dr. Ray Johnson, associate professor of educational administration and counseling, has been named by a faculty recognition committee as the recipient of Fort Hays State University's Mediated Classroom Teacher Award for his performance in the College of Education.

The faculty recognition program rewards outstanding teacher innovators and outstanding mediated classroom teachers from each of the four colleges of the university. Two other special awards -- Teacher/Innovator of the Year and Faculty Advisor of the Year -- are also part of the program. Recipients are selected by a committee chaired or appointed by the respective college deans.

One award is given each month over the period August through May. Johnson is the recipient of the Mediated Classroom Teacher Award for February. He received a check for $300 and a university lapel pin that signifies teaching excellence. Two-thirds of the financial award is provided by the university and the other third comes from Commerce Bank of Hays, which established a fund with the university to help recognize outstanding faculty teaching.

To win the Mediated Classroom Teacher Award from the College of Education, a faculty member must use innovative approaches for instruction and show evidence of original contribution and increased learning effectiveness.

On behalf of the selection committee, Dr. James Murphy, chair of the Department of Educational Administration and Counseling, said, "Ray's method of instruction includes interactive television, PowerPoint and Internet. He utilized the Blackboard instructional system primarily. He incorporates hand-held computing instruction within his classes, as it is becoming quite important to school administrators."

"Professor Johnson advises distant learners through telephone, e-mail and video conferencing. His ability to blend knowledge, performance and student disposition analysis utilizing these methods is admirable and a model for other faculty."

Dr. Tom Newton, chair of the Department of Teacher Education, said, "Dr. Johnson continues to search for ways to create and deliver instructional units to current and potential students. He stays abreast of state and national trends in preparing teachers and school administrators. In addition to establishing himself as the foremost university authority on school accreditation and school law, he is developing a certificate program in character education. There is a national interest in providing school children with a solid grounding in character education."

Newton also said, "Dr. Johnson approach is to take a professional, systematic approach in developing and testing the new teaching units."

Johnson came to Fort Hays State University in 1984. Prior to arriving at FHSU, he served as the superintendent to schools in Hardesty, OK. He received his bachelor's and his master's degrees from Oklahoma University and his doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts in 1971. His innovative use of technology in teaching was recognized previously when he won the Mediated Classroom Teacher Award in the spring 1997 semester.